Günther Nickel

West German sprinter and hurdler Günther Nickel reached the semifinals of the 110 hurdles at the 1972 München Olympics but did not qualify for the final. He was part of the 4x100 relay at the 1969 European Championships which were boycotted by West German officials after the GDR official protested the entry of former GDR-runner Jürgen May. In 1971 Nickel started in the 110 hurdles at the Europeans without success. His greatest moments came at the European Indoors, winning silver over the 50 hurdles in 1968, finishing sixth one year later, and winning the gold in the 60 hurdles in 1970. He also participated in that event in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Domestically Nickel won six outdoor and five indoor West German titles. Nickel also set six indoor world records in the 50 and 60 metre hurdles.

After his athletics career Nickel tried another career as a bobsleigh pilot and finished fifth at the 1974 World Championships in the two-man together with Horst Floth. Nickel studied law and later became a self-employed property manager. His wife, former non-Olympian hurdler Ursula Schalück was a bronze sculptor.

Personal Best: 110H – 13.67 (1972).